Russia played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. In the summer of 1775, King George III of Great Britain sought the support of Russia to send a 20,000-strong military corps to crush the rebellion in North America.
This corps would consist of combat units from the Russian army and would be led by a British general. Great Britain would pay for the recruitment of the troops and their transportation by ship to North America. The British believed that the Russian troops would guarantee Great Britain success in the upcoming campaign.
However, Russia refused to send any troops and proclaimed "armed neutrality," meaning resistance to British attempts to restrict trade with the rebel colonies at sea. Northern European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Prussia supported this policy.
This corps would consist of combat units from the Russian army and would be led by a British general. Great Britain would pay for the recruitment of the troops and their transportation by ship to North America. The British believed that the Russian troops would guarantee Great Britain success in the upcoming campaign.
However, Russia refused to send any troops and proclaimed "armed neutrality," meaning resistance to British attempts to restrict trade with the rebel colonies at sea. Northern European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Prussia supported this policy.
Catherine's political and military actions helped to further isolate Britain within European politics, ultimately leading to the eventual victory of the young American republic. The proclamation of the Declaration of Armed Neutrality by Russia, which received the official approval of the Continental Congress of the United States in October 1780, had great international significance.
If Catherine the Great had not engaged in political maneuvering with other imperial powers, and instead had chosen to support the British cause, the American Revolution might have turned out differently.
If Catherine the Great had not engaged in political maneuvering with other imperial powers, and instead had chosen to support the British cause, the American Revolution might have turned out differently.
The first direct trade connections between America and Russia were established already in 1763-1766, when American ships, despite the prohibitory policy of the mother country, completed at least 8 successful cruises to St. Petersburg.
In the course of the war for independence, individual ships under the Russian flag sailed to the shores of America via Bordeaux, and beginning in 1783, the merchant ships of the United States were visiting Russia ever more frequently.
In the course of the war for independence, individual ships under the Russian flag sailed to the shores of America via Bordeaux, and beginning in 1783, the merchant ships of the United States were visiting Russia ever more frequently.
There is also a striking similarity between two great thinkers of the 18th century: Mikhail Lomonosov and Benjamin Franklin. These two Renaissance polymaths were instrumental in founding a university dedicated to the advancement of knowledge.
What is truly remarkable is that they were both conducting experiments on the phenomenon of lightning around the same time. They both discovered that lightning as it occurs naturally and electricity as it is produced in a laboratory have similar properties.
The Imperial Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg even recognized Franklin's contributions by electing him to its honorary membership in November 1789.
What is truly remarkable is that they were both conducting experiments on the phenomenon of lightning around the same time. They both discovered that lightning as it occurs naturally and electricity as it is produced in a laboratory have similar properties.
The Imperial Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg even recognized Franklin's contributions by electing him to its honorary membership in November 1789.
In December 1807 Russia first officially agreed to provide full diplomatic recognition of the new American republic, authorizing a full top-level diplomatic exchange.
The US President Thomas Jefferson declared "Russia as the Power friendliest to the Americans."
The US President Thomas Jefferson declared "Russia as the Power friendliest to the Americans."
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